Dallas Mavericks Blog

Dirk Nowitzki puts the Tyson Chandler acquisition in context: ‘almost like when KG went to Boston’

Dirk Nowitzki threw out some high praise for Tyson Chandler on Sunday after a brief practice.
He compared Chandler’s impact on the Mavericks to Kevin Garnett’s when he joined the Boston Celtics a few years back.

“It’s almost like when KG went to Boston,” Nowitzki said. “I don’t think Ray Allen or Paul Pierce were great defenders before KG got there, but KG with his energy and influence and high octane kind of changed the whole mentality of the defense.”

Nowitzki said Chandler has done the same for the Mavericks’ defense with his communication and his ability to play goalie, which allows perimeter defenders to be a little more aggressive when it comes to staying up on their man.